Ratchet device



1934- J. H. ABRAMSON ET AL 1,971,291

RATCHET DEVICE Filed Jan. 26, 1934 2 Sheets-Shec 1 Aug. 21, 1934. J. H. ABRAMSON ET AL 1,971,291

RATCHET DEVICE I Filed Jan. 26. 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I I I ////7 its:

j Fig. 2 I wheels, the pawl occupying the locked position;

Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 1;-

Patented Aug. 21, 1934 AT f 1,971,291 I aAronET DEVICE John Herbert. Abramson and Edwin C. Swanson, Rockford, Ill., assignors to Greenlec Eros. & 00., Rockford, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application January 26, 1934, Serial No.v 708,376

17 Claims. (Cl. 145-54) This invention relates toratchet mechanism and has particular reference to ratchet mechanism of the type adapted for use in ratchet screw drivers and the like.

A. major objection to conventional ratchet mechanisms when applied to spiral ratchet screw drlversfor. example is the fact that it is impossible to latch the spindle against movement at any point in'its strokeexcept inthe collapsed position of the spindle. When the ratchet pawl is brought to the latched position, the spindle is still capable of movement in one direction and the handle tends to climb backwards up the spindle when unusual pressure is applied. l

An object of the invention is to providegenerally improved ratchet mechanism elieotive to lock the spindle at any point in its stroke against movement in either direction.

Another object otthe invention is to provide ratchet mechanism wherein ratchetwheels are each provided with a plurality of annular rows of teeth effective in the ratcheting and locking of the wheels. p

We have also aimed to provide a ratchet mechanisin wherein wheels are each provided with a plurality of annular. rows of teeth andhaving a pawl provided with fingers arranged to'selectively engage the rowsof teeth to bring about ratcheting in eitherdirectionpr the locking of the wheels. i Other objects and attendant advantages will become apparent to those skilled the art from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings, in which V Figure 1 is a section through the ratchet cage of a screwdriver embodying our invention and showing the side of the pawl in one of its ratcheting positions;

is a top view of the pawl and ratchet Fig. i is a section on the line 44 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a section through the ratchet cage of a screw driver showing a'second embodiment 155 a screw .driver showing a third embodlment .of

our invention, the pawl occupying a ratcheting position; V Fig. 11 is a view of the ratchet-wheels and pawl .of Fig. 10 showing the pawl in the locked position; i i

Fig. 12 is a top View of the pawl and ratchet wheels similar to Fig. 11 and showingthe pawl in the locked position; Fig. 13 is a section on the line 13-13 of Fig. 10;. V Fig. 14 is a section on the line l l1 l of Fig. 10; of

Fig. 15' is a section on the line 15-15 of Fig. 12, and .Fig. 1.6 is a perspective view of the pawl forming a part of the modification shown in Figs. 10-15. v The invention contemplates ratchet mechanism of a type adapted to be used with spiral ratchet screw drivers though the ratchet mechanism is in no wiseliinited to such use and for the sake of convenience is herein shown as being incorporated in a screwdriver of the type shown in our copending application Serial No. 675,175, filed Junelll, 1933. The invention contemplates a pair of ratchetwheels mounted on the spindle and a pawl carried on a stationary part of the screw 8 93. driver arranged through movement between various positions to prevent relative rotation between the ratchet wheels and the body of the screwdriver or to permit ratcheting movement between the aforementioned parts. The inven tion contemplates improved means for controlling the movement of the pawl between its various positions and improved relationships between the ratchet wheels and the pawl for the purpose of accomplishing its various functions. Referring first to the embodiment shown in Figures 1-4; inclusive, the numeral 18 designates the ratchet cage arranged to carry and hold in a position a pair of ratchet wheels designated gen-- erally by the numeralslil and 21, the cage having a key 22 for the purpose of separating the ratchet wheels and providing an abutment against which the opposed inner ends of the wheels may have bearing. The ratchet cage is threaded onto the end of a tube 23, as shown at 24, the tube 23 carrying the conventional handle for the screw driver. The ratchet cage 18 also has a slot 25 along one side within which a pawl 26 is movable and has bearing support along its edges. The ratchet cage 18a1so has a groove 27 for the purpose of receiving a pawl actuating element 28 which is preferably a strip of spring steel, the forward end of which has an opening, not shown, for the reception of a pin 29 on the upper side of the pawl. The ratchet wheels 19 and 21 each have an annular row of teeth 31 and 32 in which the teeth are of relatively great length and an annular row of teeth 33 and 34 in which the teeth are of relatively short length, the rows of teeth on each wheel being separated by an annular recess 35 and 36. The rows 33 and 34 terminate in an-' nular shoulders 87 and 38 which are preferably caused to abut the key 22 and the bottom of the teeth 33 and 34 are caused to slope gradually upward, as best shown at 39. The ratchet wheels 19 and 21 serve to receive a spindle designated generally by the numeral 41 having spiral grooves 42 arranged to cooperate with spiral ribs 43 on the inner surface of the ratchet wheels in the conventional manner.

The pawl 26 consists of a body portion 44 having a long and short finger 45 and 46 on one end and a long and a short finger 47 and 48 on the opposite end thereof, the fingers being depressed to a lower plane than the body, as shown at 49. When the pawl occupies the position shown in Figs. 1 and 3, the finger 45 is received between the teeth of the annular row 31, the finger 46 rests in the annular space 35 of the ratchet wheel 19, and the fingers 47 and 48 rest upon the annular shoulder 38 of the ratchet wheel 21. In this position of the pawl the ratchet wheel 19 is prevented from rotating in a clockwise direction facing Fig. 3 and the ratchet wheel 21 is free to rotate in either direction. Likewise, when the pawl 26 is moved to its opposed position in which the finger 47 is received between the teeth of the row 32, the finger 48 will rest in the annular recess I 36 and the fingers 45 and 46 will ride upon the 4 free to rotate in either direction. When the pawl occupies its intermediate position, as shown in Fig. 2, the finger 45 will be received between the teeth of the row 31 and also of the row 33 and likewise the finger 47 will be received between the teeth of both the row 32 and the row 34. The fingers 46 and 48 will be received between the teeth of the rows 33 and 34. In this position of the pawl, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, both of the ratchet wheels will be prevented from rotation in either direction since the fingers of the pawl occupy positions between the teeth of the ratchet wheels and both sides of the slot 25.

' A further embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 5-9, inclusive, wherein the ratchet cage 18 carries ratchet wheels designated generally by the numerals 51 and 52, each of the wheels having an annular row of teeth 53 and 54 spaced from the opposed ends of the wheels and beveled, as shown at 55. Each of the wheels also has an annular row of teeth 56 and 57 near the adjacent ends of the ratchet wheels, that is, near the ends abutting the key 22, these two rows of teeth likewise being beveled at each end, as shown at 58. The pawl 59, which is movable in the slot 25 of the cage 18 has a body consisting of a pair of end portions 61 and 62 connected by a strip 63 of lesser width. The end portions 61 and 62 and strip 63 are preferably arcuate in cross-section, as shown in Figs. 7-9, inclusive. Fingers 64 and 65 extend from the body portions 61 and 62 toward the opposed body portion on opposed sides of the strip 63 and substantially parallel thereto, the fingers being depressed to a lower plane, as shown at 66. Short fingers 67 and 68 are formed on the body portions 61 and 62 on the opposite corners from the fingers 64 and 65 and are likewise depressed to a lower plane than the body portions, as shown at 69.

When the pawl 59 occupies the position shown in Fig. 5, the finger 67 occupies a position beyond, that is, toward the tube 23, from the row of teeth 53 and rides on the smooth surface of the wheel. In this position, the body portion 61 bridges the row 53, the finger 64 is received between the teeth of the row 56 and the side of the slot 25, the finger 65 rests between the annular rows of teeth 56 and 57 and the finger 68 rests on the hub of the wheel 52 between the annular rows of teeth 57 and 54. Thus, in this position, the ratchet wheel 51 is retained against movement in a clockwise direction, facing Fig. 8, while the ratchet wheel 52 is free to rotate in either direction. When the pawl 59 occupies its opposed position, the finger 68 rides on the hub of the ratchet wheel 52 forward of the annular row of teeth 54, the body portion 62 bridges the annular row 54, the finger 65 engages the annular row 57, the finger 64 lies between the annular rows 56 and 57, the body portion 61 bridges the annular row 65, and the finger 67 rests between the annular rows 63 and 66, whereby the ratchet wheel 52 is retained against rotation in a counterclockwise direction, facing Fig. 8, while the ratchet wheel 51 is free to rotate in either direction. When the pawl 59 occupies the position 105 shown in Fig. 6, the finger 67 is received between the teeth of the annular row 53, the finger 64 is received between the teeth of the annu ar row 56, the finger 65 is received between the teeth of the annular row 57, and the finger 68 is received between the annular row of teeth 54, whereby the ratchet wheels 51 and 52 are retained against rotation in either direction to lock the spindle to the ratchet cage 18.

Another embodiment of the invention is shown in Figs. 10-16, inclusive, wherein ratchet wheels 71 and 72 are supported in the ratchet cage 18 and are provided with spaced annular rows of teeth 73, 74, 75 and 76, the rows being positioned at opposite ends of the ratchet wheels. The ratchet wheels have central annular recesses 77 and 78, the ends of the teeth adjacent thereto being beveled, as shown at 79. A pawl 81, best shown in Fig. 16, is positioned in the slot 25 of the ratchet cage for longitudinal movement, the sides of the pawl abutting the sides of the slot, as shown in Figs. 13-15. The pawl 81 consists of a body portion 82 having long fingers 83 and 84 as at opposite ends and short fingers 85 and 86, the fingers 85 and 86 being connected at their 139 inner ends to the outer ends of the fingers 83 and 84 by means of cross-members 87 and 88. The long fingers 83 and 84, short fingers 85 and 86, and cross-members 87 and 88 are depressed to a plane below that of the body portion 82, as best 31 shown in Fig. 16. In Fig. 10, the pawl is shown in its rearward ratcheting position, in which position the cross-piece 88 rides on the annular row of teeth 73, thus holding the finger 86 out of engagement, the long finger 84 rests over the 3 annular recess 77 of the ratchet wheel 81, the finger 83 is in engagement with the annular row 75 while the finger 85 and cross-member 87 rest in the annular recess 78 of the gear 72, whereby the gear 71 is permitted to rotate in either direc- 19,-, tion while the gear 72 is retained against rotation in a counterclockwise direction, facing Fig.

14. In the forward position of the pawl 82, the cross-member 87 and finger 85 ride on the annular row of teeth 76 while the long finger 83 is Supported over the annular-recess 78 of the gear '72. The long finger 84 is in engagement with the annular row of teeth 74 while the finger 86 and cross-member 88 rest in the annular recess 77 of the wheel 71, whereby thewheel 72 is held against rotation in a clockwise direction, facing Fig. 14, and the wheel 72 is permitted to rotate in either direction. In the intermediate position of the pawl, as shown in Fig. 12, the short finger 86 engages the annular row of teeth 73, the long finger 84 engages the row '74, the long finger 83 engages the row 75, and the short finger 85 engages the row '76, thereby preventing either of the ratchet wheels from rotating in either direction.

Attention is directed to the fact that we have provided ratchet mechanism wherein the ratchet wheels may be locked against rotation in either direction so as to prevent relative rotative movement of any kind between the spindle and the ratchet cage and this locking operation is'accomplished by moving the pawl of the ratchet mechanism into a definite position. Attention is also directed to the fact that means are provided for the purpose of selectivelytilting "the pawl to bring about the desired engagement and that this tilting is accomplished upon longitudinal movement of the pawl into the proper position.

Another feature of the invention lies in the fact that we have provided means for supporting each end of the pawl in each of its positions so that there is no possibility of accidental tilting of the pawl of a nature which will bring about improper engagement between the pawl and the ratchet wheels. 7

" Another feature of the invention lies in the fact that we have provided ratchet wheels, each having two annular rows of gear teeth and a pawl arranged to selectively engage these annular rows of teeth to bring about the required engagement between the pawl and the ratchet wheels. We have also provided shaped characteristics in the ratchet wheels such that both endsof the pawl are supported in each of its positions.

1 While we have thus described and illustrated specific embodiments of our invention, it will be understood that these were given by way of illustration and that numerous alterations and changes may be made therein. without departing from the spirit of the invention or' the scope oi the appended claims, in which- We claim 1. A ratchet mechanism comprising a spindle, a pair of ratchet wheels mounted on the spindle each having spaced annular rows of teeth, a longitudinally movable pawl having fingers shaped and positioned to selectively engage a row of teeth on either wheel for ratcheting in either direction and to engage more than one row of teeth on both wheels to lock the wheels against rotation, and means for holding the pawl against lateral displacement.

2. A ratchet mechanism comprising a spindle,

' a pair of ratchet wheels mounted on the spindle each having a pair of spaced annular rows of teeth, a longitudinally movable pawl having fingers shaped and positioned to selectively engage a row of teeth on either wheel for ratcheting in either direction and more than one row on both Wheels to lock the wheels against rotation, and means for holding the pawl against lateral displacement.

3. A ratchet mechanism comprising a ratchet body having a longitudinal slot, a spindle supported in the ratchet body, a pair of ratchet wheels in the ratchet body mounted on the spindle, each having spaced annular rows of teeth, and a longitudinally movable pawl in said slot having fingers adjacent the sides of said slot shaped and positioned to selectively engage a row of teeth on either Wheel for ratcheting in either direction, and more than one row on both wheels to lock the wheels against rotation.

4. A ratchet mechanism comprising a ratchet body having a longitudinal slot, 2. spindle supported in the ratchet body, a pair of ratchet wheels in the ratchet body mounted on the spindle, and a longitudinally movable pawl in said slot having fingers adjacent the sides of said slots in laterally and longitudinally spaced relationship for selectively engaging a row of teeth on either wheel for ratcheting in either direction and more than one row on both wheels to lock the whee against rotation. V

5. A ratchet mechanism comprising a spindle, a pair of ratchet wheels mounted on the spindle each having an annular row of ratchet teeth and an annular row of locking teeth, a pawl having corresponding ratchet and locking fingers, the ratchet fingers being selectively receivable in the ratchet teeth for rotation of the wheels in either direction and the ratchet and locking fingers being engageable in the ratchet and locking teeth to lock the wheels, and means for holding the pawl against lateral displacement.

6. A ratchet mechanism comprising a spindle, a pair of ratchet wheels mounted on the spindle each wheel having spaced annular rows of teeth,

a longitudinally movable pawl having a pair of fingers selectively engageable with certain of said annular rows of teeth for ratcheting of the wheels in either direction and additional fingers ,engageable with certain of said annular rows for the purpose of locking the wheels against rotation,

disengaged from said teeth during ratcheting and its to engage certain rows thereof to cooperate with the long fingers in looking the wheels against rotation, and means for holding the pawl against lateral displacement.

8. A ratchet mechanism comprising a spindle, a pair of ratchet wheels mounted on the spindle having spaced annular rows of teeth, a longitudinally movable pawl having long fingers at each end each finger selectively engaging one row of teeth of the wheels for ratcheting or both rows for locking, and short fingers on each end shaped and positioned to occupy a disengaged position during ratcheting and to engage one row of teeth of each wheel to cooperate with the long fingers in locking the wheels against rotation, and means for holding the pawl against lateral displacement.

9. A ratchet mechanism comprising a spindle, a pair of ratchet wheels mounted thereon and to end, each having spaced annular rows of teeth forming adjacent and remote pairs of annular rows, a longitudinally movable pawl having fingers at each end to engage the remote rows of each wheel in one position of the pawl and having fingers intermediate the first-mentioned fingers selectively engageable with the adjacent rows of teeth in spaced positions of the pawl, and means for holding the pawl against lateral displacement.

10. A ratchet mechanism comprising a spindle, a pair of rate et wheels mounted end to end on the spindle, each having spaced annular rows of teeth, a longitudinally movable pawl having fingers at each end to engage the remote rows of each wheel when the pawl occupies a central position, and intermediate fingers for engaging adjacent rows at end positions of the pawl, the rows of teeth bein shaped to selectively elevate the ends of the pawl when the latter moves into said end positions, means on the wheels and the pawl for carrying the end of the pawl out or" engagement with the wheel, and means for holding the pawl against lateral displacement.

11. A ratchet mechanism comprising a spin dle, a pair of ratchet wheels mounted on the spindle, each having spaced annular rows of teeth, a longitudinally movable pawl havin longitudinally spaced fingers for selective engagement with said rows of teeth, the rows and the fingers being shaped and spaced for the fingers to selectively occupy disengaged positions between the rows at predetermined positions of the pawl, and means for holding the pawl. against lateral displacement;

12. In a ratchet mechanism, the combination of a pair of ratchet wheels each having spaced annular rows of teeth and a pawl comprising a fiat body portion, a pair of parallelly disposed long fingers at diagonally opposite corners of the body depressed below the plane of the body at points directly adjacent the body and a pair of parallelly short fingers at corners of the body depressed below the plane of the body at points directly adjacent to the body, said short fingers being parallel to the long fillgers and of less than one-half the length thereof.

13. In a ratchet mechanism, the combination of a pair of ratchet wheels each having spaced annular rows of teeth and a pair of spaced body portions, a strip connecting the body portions along their center lines, a long finger on each body portion parallel with said strip depressed below the plane of the strip and body portions and extending toward opposed body portions, and a short finger on each body portion diagonal- 1y opposed to the long finger thereon, the long fingers serving in a ratcheting function of the pawl and the short fingers in a locking function.

14. In a ratchet mechanism, the of a pair of ratchet wheels each having spaced annular rows of teeth and a pawl comprising a pair of spaced body portions arouately curved transversely of the pawl, a strip connecting the body portions along their center lines, a long finger on each body portion parallel with said strip depressed below the plane of the strip and body portions and extending toward opposed body portions, and a short finger on each body portion diagonally opposed to the long finger thereon, the long fingers serving in a ratcheting function of the pawl and the short fingers in a locking function.

15. In a ratchet mechanism, the combination of a pair of ratchet wheels each having spaced annular rows teeth and a pawl comprising a fiat bodyportion, a pair of parallelly disposed long fingers at diagonally opposed corners of the body portion, depressed bel w the plane of the body at points remote from the body, a pair of parallelly disposed short fingers at diagonally opposed corners of the body depressed below the plane or" the body at points directly adjacent the body, and cross-members connecting the outer ends of the short fingers with the points of depression of the long fingers, the short fingers servin in the ratcheting function of the pawl and the long cooperating with the short fingers in the locking function of the pawl.

16. A ratchet mechanism comprising a spindle, a pair or" ratchet wheels mounted on the spindle each having a pair of spaced annular rows of teeth, a longitudinally movable pawl comprising a fiat body portion, a pair of parallelly disposed long fingers at diagonally opposed corhere of the body depressed below the plane of the body, each finger being adapted for selective engagement with the rows of teeth of one wheel, and a r of "y disposed short fingers at diagonally opposed corners of the body depressed J the plane the body, parallel to and of lesser length l said long fingers, each of the short fingers being adapted for selective engagement with one row of teeth of each wheel whereby to cooperate wit the long fingers to lock said is re .tion, and means for holding le pawl against lateral displacement.

17. A ratchet mechanism comprising a spindle, a pair of ratchet wheels mounted on the spindle each having a pair of spaced annular rows of teeth, a longitudinally movable comprising a pair of spaced body portions, a strip connecting said body portions along their center lines, a long finger on each body portion parallel with said strip depressed below the plane of said strip and body portions and extending toward the opposed body portion, the long fingers each being adapted for selective engagement with a row of teeth on one wheel, and a short finger on each po tron diagonally opposed to the long finger, the fingers and the annular rows of teeth being shaped and spaced for reception of each of the short fingers in a row of each wheel when the long fingers both engage adjacent rows of each wheel whereby to look the wheels against rotation, and means for holding the pawl against lateral displacement.

JOHN HERBERT ABRAMSON. EDJVIN C. SNANSON. 

